Shortland



July 7, 1959 A. SHORTLAND 2,893,228

YARN OR THREAD SL IPPLYING MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed June 1, 1955 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 4 8 l/Vl/ENTOR- ATTORNHS July- 7, 1959 A. SHORTLAND v 2,893,228

YARN OR THREAD SUPPLYING MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed June 1, 1955 v 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY-5 8 Sheets-Sheet 3.

A. SHORTLAND ATTURA/Efi July 7, 1959 YARN OR THREAD SUPPLYING MEANS FORVKNITTING MACHINES Filed June 1, 1955 July 7,1959 2 A. SHORTLAND 2,893,228

YARN OR THREAD SUPPLYING'MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed June 1, 1955 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNQS y 1959 A. SHORTLAND 2,893,228

YARN OR THREAD SUPPLYING MEANS F OR KNITTING MACHINES I //VVEN7UQ ew/m? SHOWM/Vo;

. ATTORA/E Y5 YARN OR THREAD SUPPLYING MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed June 1, 1955 July 7, 1959 A. SHORTLAND 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 July 7, 1959 A. SHORTLAND 2,893,228

' -YARN IOR THREAD SUPPLYING MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed June "1, 1955 s Sheets-Sheet 7 45 105 M/VENTOR Arron/5x5 July 7, 1959 A. SHORTLAND 2,893,228

YARN 6R THREAD SUPPLYING MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 1, 1955 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 United States Patent YARN OR THREAD SUPPLYING MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Arthur Shortland, Leicester, England Application June 1, 1955, Serial No. 512,545

Claims priority, application Great Britain June 8, 1954 14 Claims. (Cl. 66-140) This invention relates to yarn or thread supplying means for knitting machines, and has for its object to provide general improvements in such means of the previously proposed and adopted form described and claimed in the specification of prior United States Patent No. 2,015,136.

Broadly considered, yarn supplying means of the said previously proposed form comprise yarn holding means and a yarn picking device adapted to operate so as to pick a yarn presented in a non-feeding position by the yarn holding means, and take said yarn from that position to the needles of the machine.

For the sake of brevity, the term yarn will be used throughout this specification and in the appended claims as denoting any kind of yarn or thread which may be dealt with.

The improved yarn supplying means provided by the present invention are primarly intended for use as yarn changing means for the purpose of producing horizontal or/and vertical stripes, or for producing patterns or designs in the knitted fabric, although there is no limitation in this respect as they may, for instance, also be used for supplying one or more rubber threads,

When used for yarn changing purposes, the improved yarn supplying means will usually supply the yarns to the needles to be knitted by them, but when used for supplying a rubber thread the said means may introduce this to the needles for either knitting or to form a nonknitted weft.

Although the yarn supplying means of the present invention are intended principally for application to circular knitting machines, rib and plain, they are also applicable to knitting machines of any other appropriate kind. Thus, although for convenience the improved yarn supplying means will for the most part be hereinafter described in connection with a circular knitting machine of the kind having a rotary needle cylinder and stationary cam box, such description is not to be regarded as limiting the application of the invention as the latter may even be applied to straight-bar machines, fiat machines and others.

For yarn changing purposes, the improved means are adapted to deal with a plurality of yarns, but the means may be constructed to deal with a single yarn or thread.

Now in the mechanism described and claimed in the prior specification No. 2,015,136 aforesaid, the yarn holding means are constituted by tensioning and guiding devices through which a yarn feeding to the needles passes and in which the end of the yarn remains after severance when the supply of yarn to the needles is to cease. These tensioning and guiding devices are, in fact, so arranged that when the yarn picking device takes a yarn to the needles it pulls it out of a tension device or guide and when, or before, the yarn is introduced to the needles said yarn is enabled to re-enter the tension device or guide. According to one example of the prior invention the tension devices each comprise blade-like mem- "ice hers pressed together by springs and having out-turned ends. In another example, tension discs are provided.

Spring-influenced tension devices for this purpose are I not very satisfactory. Thus, for instance, they exert tension on running yarns which should ideally be allowed to run free. The degree of tension applied must, therefore, be comparatively small, although, in these circumstances, it scarcely is sufiicient to enable yarns to be securely held in their non-feeding positions: as a consequence it is possible for held y'arns to be inadvertently pulled out of the tension devices. Again, when empty bobbins or other wound packages are being replaced by full ones and the yarn ends are first engaged with the holding means, the attendant may unknowingly pull the yarns from between the opposed elements of the tension devices.

Accordingly, an aim of the present invention is to obviate the foregoing disadvantages by the provision by means adapted to hold the, or each, yarn more positively in its non-feeding position and yet enable the said yarn.

to run freely when it is feeding to the needles.

According to this invention, the means, in a yarn supplying mechanism of the form herein referred to, for holding the, or each, yarn to be dealt with comprises a mechanically operable and closeable trapper device adapted to be automatically actuated in suitable timed relation with the controlled movements of the yarn picking device.

The, or each, trapper device may conveniently comprise a pair of elements which are relatively movable laterally and are normally urged together under any suitable spring influence, in which instance a movable trapper actuating member associated with the said elements may be furnished with a nib or nose for interposition between the elements at appropriate times. Thus, in this improved arrangement, each time the trapper device is to be opened to release its hold on the relevant yarn, thereby enabling the latter to be taken towards the needles by the yarn picking device, the associated trapper actuating member is automatically moved to force its nib or nose between the opposed trapper elements with the result that these are forced apart laterally against the spring action. Conversely, closure of the device is automatically efiected in a positive manner to trap the'relevant yarn, whenever it is withdrawn from knitting, by movement of the trapper actuating member in the reverse sense as a consequence of which its nib or nose is withdrawn from between the trapper elements so that the latter are permitted to spring together.

For additional security, the opposed faces of the transfer elements of the, or each, pair may advantageously be formed with serrations or equivalent extending transversely with respect to the yarn to be trapped and held thereby.

In accordance with an important feature of the, or each, automatically operable mechanical trapper device, the adjacently disposed trapper elements thereof are preferably both forked or bifurcated so as to provide what are, in effect, two spaced pairs of trapper fingers between which can be arranged to extend a straight exposed length of the trapped yarn. It is this straight portion of the yarn, stretched between the said two spaced pairs of trapper fingers, which is nipped and taken hold of by the yarn picking device at such times as the yarn is to be taken towards the needles of the machine.

For automatically opening and closing the, or each, trapper at appropriate times there may conveniently be provided an opening member for action upon the rear or inner edge of the trapper actuating member, and a closing member for action on the underside of a rearwardly directed-tail on the member, the said trapper opening and closing membersbeing operable, through the medium of any suitable intermediate connections, from cams on a rotatable drum rotation of which is initi'ated by pattern mechanism such as a chain, drum, jacquard, or any of the usual means employed in knitting machines for exercising automatic control.

For supplying any one of several yarns, the present invention includes an arrangement wherein the yarn picking device is caused, in a similar manner to that described in the prior specification aforesaid, to pick the yarns in a pre-arranged order. In this regard, the ends of the several yarns may be trapped and held by a series of trappers of the character herein described which are carried by a common component operable to shift the trapped yarns so that a selected yarn, as predetermined, can be brought into a favourable position to be picked and taken by the picking device. Alternatively, the yarn picking device may itself be shiftable in relation to the several trapped ends of yarn so that it can be caused to take hold of and supply the different yarns in a predeter'rnined order.

But where, for yarn changing purposes, trappers are arranged side by side and mounted on a component which is preferably movable to different extents to shift the yarns as previously described, it is convenient to provide a trapper closing bar common to all of the trapper actuating members of the series. This bar, which when operated acts on the underside of, and serves to lift, the rearwardly directed tail of any trapper actuating member in its path may advantageously be so formed that whilst functioning, during a yarn changing operation, to effect closure of the relevant trapper for trapping the yarn withdrawn from knitting it will not at that time close the trapper corresponding to the yarn selected to be taken by the yarn picking device and introduced to the needles.

Whenever the trapper-carrying component is caused to move to shift a selected yarn laterally into the median plane of the yarn picking device, that is to say into a favourable position to be picked, the trapper actuating rn'ember associated with the trapper by which said yarn is held will be automatically presented opposite to the operative portion of a trapper opening member common to all the trappers, whereupon the said member will be moved to act on the rear or inner edge of the trapper actuating member so presented, thereby opening the trapper and enabling the selected yarn to be freely taken therefrom. Like the trapper closing member, the trapper opening member may also conveniently be in the form of a bar adapted to be actuated against spring action from a cam on a rotatable drum through any suitable intermediate connections.

In the prior invention disclosed in the specification No. 2,015,136 aforesaid, the yarn picking device itself functions to take to the needles a selected yarn picked from its non-feeding position by the said device. In this connection the device carries the end of the picked yarn and lays it across the needle line, i.e. the needle circle in the case of a circular knitting machine. Thus, whenapplied to a machine of the cylinder and dial type, the yarn picking device of the prior invention swings inwards below the dial needles towards the cylinder needles thereby laying the yarn between adjacent dial needles. According to a further feature of the present invention, however, the yarn picking device, each time it "operates to take hold of a selected yarn, moves bodily across the needle line but positions the yarn'clear of the needles, a separate yarn placing element thereupon being "actuated to engage the yarn and push it into sucha position that it :is then taken by the needles. In other words, the yarn picking device simply positions a selected'y'arn in a favourable position for introduction to the needles, whilst the independent operable yarn placing element (pusher) is employed actually to lay this yarn between adjacent needles.

The various connections whereby the inter-related and appropriately timed movements of all of the conjointly operable devices and elements of the mechanism are effected may be actuated by or from cams on a common rotary cam drum. In this way the entire mechanism may be self-contained and in the form of a unitary structure adapted for ready application to a knitting machine.

The construction and arrangement of the mechanism is preferably such that this rotary cam drum is caused to rotate through one complete revolution during each change of yarn.

A still further feature of the invention resides in the provision of simply constructed and efficient controlled driving means for the rotary cam drum. These means are not cam-operated, but comprise, in combination, a rotary toothed element adapted to be engaged and driven round by a series of spaced pegs or the like on a component of the machine between which and the yarn supplying mechanism there is relative movement, any appropriate gearing for transmitting a drive from the toothed element to the cam drum, and patter controlled means for determining the times when the pegs or the like are permitted to engage and rotate the toothed element. In the case of a circular knitting machine of the rotary needle cylinder type, a series of pegs on the head wheel of the machine may be arranged to co-operate with a star wheel from which the rotary cam drum may conveniently be driven through the medium of, for instance, bevel gearing. In any event the pattern controlled means for determining the times when these pegs are to rotate the star wheel may be operated by an element in turn operated by or from a pattern chain or a main control drum.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood and readily carried into practical effect, a specific constructional form of yarn supplying and changing mechanism in the nature of a horizontal striper embodying the foregoing and other features and suitable for application to a circular knitting machine of the rotary cylinder and dial type will now he described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein,

Figure l is a vertical sectional View of so much of the head of the machine as is necessary to indicate the position occupied by the yarn supplying and changing mechanism (shown in phantom), and illustrates also the manner in which the yarn picking device takes a selected yarn from the relevant trapper and favourably disposes it for introduction to the needles by the associated yarn pusher,

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the yarn supplying and changing mechanism showing, more particularly, the selector wheel whereby the trapper-carrying com ponent is shifted to varying extents, through the medium of a selector arm, so that a selected yarn, as predc termined, can be brought into a favourable position to be taken by the yarn picking device,

Figure 3 is a further side elevational view of the said mechanism as seen from the other side thereof and illustrating, more especially the cam-controlled connections for operating the trapper closing member, the yarn picking device and the yarn pusher,

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line IV- IV of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a plan view of the complete mechanism as seen in the direction of the arrow A in Figure 3,

Figure 6 is a detail side view, in the plane VI-*Vl indicated on Figure 4, showing the groove or track in the cam drum and the connections for controlling the bodily movements of the yarn picking device.

Figure 7, is a detail cross-sectional view taken on the line Vlh-VII. of Figure 6,

Figure 8 is a detail side view, in theplane VIII-VIII indicated on Figure 4, depicting the cams on the control drum and the relevant connections for operating the 5. trapper opening member and a shear blade provided in conjunction withthe trappersas will be hereinafter described,

Figure 9, is an enlarged detail side View illustrating, more clearly, the inter-connected levers for actuating the trapper closing member, the yarn picking device and the yarn pusher,

. Figure 10 is a fragmentary sectional plan view, taken on the line X-XIof Figure 9, showing the trappers, the trapper opening and closing members and the yarn picking device-with one of theelements of the latter removed for clarity,

.Figure 11 is a detail perspective view of one of the trappers per se,

Figure 12 is an exploded perspective view depicting the two component elements of a trapper and also the associated trapper actuating member,

Figure 13 is a further detail perspective view illustrating two of the trappers assembled-side by side, and,

Figure 14 is a detail plan view showing a few of the series of pegs on the head wheel of the machine for driving round the star wheel from which the rotary cam dr is driven.

Like parts are designated by similar reference characters throughout the drawings.

In Figure l, the rotary needle cylinder of the machine is indicated at 1 and the rotary dial at 2. Portions of co-operating cylinder and dial needles are shown at 3 and 4 respectively. p The reference numeral 5 indicates the stationary cylinder cam box and 6 the dial cam cap. The conventional cylinder driving gear 7 is attached in the usual way to a head wheel 8 which rotates together with the cylinder and the dial. At 9 is shown the stationary annular top plate of the machine. The self-contained yarn supplying and changing mechanism constituting this invention is merely shown in phantom in Figure 1, being indicated generally by the letter B. As will be seen, the said mechanism includes a main casting 10 adapted to be secured in position upon a stationary cam box plate 11 in turn attached to upstanding brackets such as 12 attached to the top plate 9. Upon the top of the main casting 10 is provided a pivoted arm 13 the rear end of which is arranged to turn in a horizontal plane about a vertical fulcrum pin 14 set in the casting, this arm being thereby capable of being swung to and fro above the said casting. Secured, by means of an adjustable clip 15, to the leading end of the arm 13 is a trapper-carrying component 16 comprising, as shown in Figures 9 and 10, two laterally spaced side cheeks 17 connected by two parallel upper and lower rods 18 and 19 of circular cross-section extending at right-angles to the cheeks. The component 16 extends generally tangentially with respect to the circle of cylinder and dial needles. Extending vertically upwards from the side cheeks 17 are two short posts such as 20 serving to support a yarn-guiding plate 21 fitted with a plurality of porcelain eyes 22 through which differently coloured yarns from appropriate supplies extend downwards. As will be seen in Figure 5 there are four of the eyes 22 for guiding a corresponding number of contrastingly coloured yarns Y, although this number may, of course, vary according to requirements. The trapper-carrying component 16 is partially encased by an appropriately bent rectangular piece 23 of sheet metal which extends first upwardly over the backs of the side cheeks 17 and then forwardly over the tops of these cheeks where it is downwardly shaped and slotted, as indicated at 23a in Figure 9, to receive and guide the yarns extending down through the eyes 22. That is to say, there are four of the yarn guiding slots 23a, one below each porcelain eye. The aforementioned clip serving to support the component 16 is adjustable within a slot 13a formed in the leading end of the arm 13 and is split and clamped upon the appropriate post 20. t

In the specific example illustrated there are four mechanically operated trappers T-one below and in alignment with each of the slots 23a and also the corresponding porcelain eye 22. These trappers will now be described in detail with reference more particularly to Figures 9-13. Each trapper comprises a fixed element 24 and an element 25 movable laterally in relation thereto (see Figure 12). upstanding lug 24a which is drilled at 24b to enable it to be fitted upon the upper horizontal rod 18 of the trapper-carrying component 16. The trapper elements 24 are correctly located upon, and rendered immovable axially in relation to, the rod 18 by means of tubular distance pieces 26 threaded upon the said rod and inter-' posed between the lugs 24a (Figures 9 and 13). The

fixed elements 24 are also drilled at 24c to enable them to; be engaged with the lower rod 19 extending between the side cheeks 17; in this way any angular displacement of the elements 24 in their own vertical planes is positively prevented. The movable element 25 of each trapper is drilled at 25a (Figure 12) to enable it to be slidably engaged with the lower rod 19, and compression springs 27 mounted upon the latter and arranged between the trappers T are provided to press the elements 24 and 25 together.

suchwise as to provide two pairs of outwardly directed and horizontally disposed trapper fingers of which one pair, 24d, 25b is spaced above the other pair 242, 25c, leaving sufficient space between them to receive the operative end of the yarn picking device P hereinafter to Moreover, to retain each striper yarn Y within the confines of the corresponding trapper, irrespectively as to whether that yarn is withdrawn from knitting or is being fed to the needles, the top and bottom edges of the upper finger 24d of the fixed element 24 of the said trapper are provided with laterally extending lugs 24h and 24i which are relatively disposed as shown more clearly in Figures 9 and 10. Incidentally, in Figure 10, three of the trappers are shown closed with the corresponding yarns trapped, whilst the fourth trapper is open, the yarn previously trapped therein being nipped by the yarn picking device P. Mounted to fulcrum about the lower rod 19 are four trapper actuating members 28 one to each trapper T. As will be seen in Figure 10 the actuating member associated with each trapper is located immediately adjacent to, and on the outer side of, the fixed element 24. Accordingly, the members 28 are held up to their respective trappers by the compression springs 27. The precise form of a trapper actuating member is depicted more clearly in Figure 12 and, as will be seen, it has extending laterally from its front or outer edge an upwardly directed nose 28a for interposition at appropriate times between the upper pair of trapper fingers 24d, 25b of the relevant trapper T. When the nose 28a is interposed in this way, the laterally movable element 25 of the trapper is splayed apart from the fixed element 24 in the manner shown in the lower portion of Figure 10. The rear or inner edge of each trapper actuating member 28 is formed with an inwardly directed tail 28b, and a hole 280 drilled in the said member enables it to be fitted upon the rod 19.

Thus, the trappers T are arranged side by side upon the common carrier component 16 which is movable laterally to different extents in either direction, by appropriately turning the arm 13 about the fulcrum pin 14, so that a selected yarn Y can be brought into a favourable position to be picked and taken by the picking device P. To enable it to be turned to the extent re- The element 24 is formed with an The elements 24 and 25 of each trapper T are forked or bifurcated (Figures 11, 12 and 13) connected to its underside by depending studs 29 a relatively-thin plate 30 in which is formed a curved slot 31. Projecting up into this slot is an upstanding pin 32 (see Figures 2 and 3) fixed in a laterally bent upper portion 33a of a pivoted selector arm 33 the lower extremity of which is rigidly secured to a horizontal fiulcrum pin 34 arranged to turn in a lower portion of the main casting 10. The selector arm 33 is formed integrally, at a point intermediate its ends, with a nose 33b adapted normally to rest on and be supported by the outer end of one of a circular series of radiating pins 35 projecting from the periphery of a selector wheel 36 arranged to be turned round step by step upon a spindle 37 fixed in the casting. As shown in Figure 4, the selector wheel 36 comprises two parts, viz. a centrally bossed disc 36a mounted upon the spindle 37 and having a thickened rim drilled with holes in which inwardly bent portions of the pins '35 are fitted, and a divided ring of suitably rabbeted sectoral elements 36b which are attached by means of screws to the disc 36a for the purpose of clamping the said pins in position. Thus, by removing any one or more of the sectoral elements 36b, pins can be readily removed from the wheel and replaced by others of different lengths, according to requirements. Also mounted for rotation about the spindle 37, independently of the selector wheel 36, is a cam drum 33 different parts of which are shown in Figures 3, 6, 7 and 8. Each time the cam drum 38 is driven through a complete revolution, in the manner later to be described, the selector wheel 36 is racked round to the extent of one step to present the next radiating pin 35 thereon to the nose 33b on the selector arm 33. This is achieved in the following manner: on the periphery of a portion 38a of the cam drum is provided a single striker pin 39 (see Figure 6) which, as it moves round, acts on one of a series of pointed teeth 40a on a small wheel 40 arranged to turn about an axis at right angles to the said drum, and so taps round this wheel to the extent of one step. The pointed toothed wheel 40 is rigidly secured to the outer end of a short rotary spindle 41 (Figure 2) to the inner end of which is fixed a toothed pinion 42 arranged to mesh with the radiating pins 35 on the selector wheel 36. Hence, each time this pionion 42 is racked round, the selector wheel 36 will also be turned on one step. For keeping the selector arm 33 and its nose 33b clear of the pins 35 on the selector wheel 36 at such times as the latter is being racked round, a cam 43 of arcuate form secured to the cam drum 38 (see Figures 4 and 6) is arranged for action at these times upon a short curved lever 44 rigidly secured upon the horizontal fulcrum pin 34 to which the lower extremity of the selector arm is also secured. But immediately the selector wheel 36 has been racked round and the arcuate cam 43 has turned beyond and clear of the short curved lever 44, the selector arm 33 will be released again so that its nose 3312 comes to rest on the outer end of the radiating pin 35 then presented to it. As previously stated, the radiating pins 35 are of respectively different lengths, and since the upstanding pin 32 on the selector arm 33 works in the slotted plate 30 movable with the fol crurn'ed arm 13, it will be appreciated that the length of any particular pin 35 presented to the nose of the selector arm determines the position of the trapper-carrying component 16 and accordingly which of the trappers T is positioned on the median vertical plane of the yarn picking device P. If, as in the arrangement depicted in Figure 2, a succession of radiating pins 35 of the same length are presented to the nose 3312 then, of course, there is no change in the yarn. Presentation of a long pin to the nose will result in the trapper-carrying component 16 being shifted in one direction, whilst similar presentation of a short pin will effect a shift in the opposite direction to present a selected yarn to the yarn picking device. A spring blade 45, suitably formed at orne'ar its leading end for engagement between two pins 35 on the selector wheel 36, is provided to check andlocate the latter in position after being racked round (see Figures 2 and 5).

In this example, the actual yarn picking device P is similar in construction to that described and illustrated in the prior specification No. 2,015,136. That is to say, it includes a pivoted nipper element 46 interposed between and adapted to co-operate with a pair of relatively fixed members 47. As will be seen in Figures 9 and 10, the pivoted nipper element 46 is formed at its opertive end with a curved pincer 46a, whilst the corresponding end of each of the fixed members 47 has, at one side thereof, a straight nipper jaw 47a for co-operation with the pincer 46a. When the element 46 is turned to dispose its pincer 46a adjacent to the nipper jaws 47a, as depicted in Figure 10 (from which the upper fixed member 47 is omitted for clarity) the device is closed as it is for nipping and taking a selected yarn. By turning the element 46 to the chain line position in Figure 10, however, the pincer 46a is separated from the jaws 47a to open the device and release the yarn. The said element 46 and the two members 47 are all engaged with a pin 48 and a stud 49 depending from a carrier plate 50, and are held together resiliently beneath this plate by means of a blade spring 51. This spring is drilled between its ends for engagement with the stud 49 the lower portion of which is screw-threaded and has screwed onto it a retaining nut 52 and a locknut 53 (Figure 9). To locate it and prevent it from turning, the blade spring 51 is recessed at one end to receive the depending pin 48. For enabling the picker device P to be opened and closed, by appropriate turning movements of the nipper element 46, the latter has formed therein an arcuate slot 46b through which the pin 48 extends, and is provided with a lateral projection 46c with a down-turned end 46d arranged to be acted upon by abutrnents hereinafter to be described.

The yarn pusher is indicated at 54 and is mounted for longitudinal sliding movement on the top of the carrier plate 50. The operative end 54a of the pusher 54 is cranked downwardly as shown more clearly in Figure 9, Whilst its body is longitudinally slotted at 54b to receive the shanks of headed retaining screws 55. A tension spring S (Figure 5) serves to influence the pusher 54, and to enable the latter to be urged forwardly at required times against the action of this spring it is provided with a lateral projection 54c adapted to be acted upon by a swinging lever presently to be described.

The carrier plate 50 is attached to the upper end of a comparatively short lever 56 which is articulated to the leading or outer end of a picker arm 57 (Figures 6 and 7). The picker arm is mounted to turn up and down about a pin 58 fixed in the part 59 of the main casting. The short lever 56 has projecting laterally therefrom a pin 60 arranged to work in an appropriately contoured slot 61 formed in an adjacently located fixed guide 62. The arrangement is such that as the picker arm 57 is either raised or lowered, the pin 60 working in the guiding slot 61 will cause the yarn picking device P to move always in a prescribed path. This path is, as illustrated in Figure 1, such that after taking hold of a selected yarn Y, the yarn picking device first withdraws outwardly away from and clear of the relevant trapper '1 then moves vertically downwards or substantially so and finally advances slightly towards the needles 3, 4 to position the yarn for engagement by the yarn pusher 54. A tension spring 63 is anchored at one end to the underside of the picker arm 57 and at its other end to the base of the main casting 10. For controlling down ward swinging movement of the picker arm 57 under the spring action, and raising the said arm against this action to restore it to its original starting position, there is included in the rotary cam drum'33 an endless cam track 64 in which is arranged'to work .a plunger 65 associated with the pickera'rm. The track "64 is defined by the appropriate edges of suitably profiled inner and outer cam plates 66 and 67 respectively. The plunger 65 is insertible into and withdrawable from the cam track 64, and means are provided for normally maintaining it in engagement with the track but for enabling it to be withdrawn from the latter, according to requirements. As will be appreciated, with the plunger 65 in the track, the picker arm 57 will be first lowered and then raised at each revolution of the cam drum. If, on the other hand, the plunger 65 is withdrawn, the rotating track 64 will have no effect on it as a consequence of which the picker arm 57 will remain quiescent. In this regard, it is, of course, required at certain times to rotate the cam drum 38 idly without a yarn change taking place, for instance with the object of maintaining a proper sequence of changes. Thus, in one specific constructional arrangement depicted in Figures 6 and 7, the plunger 65 is: provided at one end of a lever 68 which is pivoted between its ends on a pivot pin 69 secured in the picker arm and a support plate 70 for the said lever secured beneath the arm. The lever 68 thus works in a recess formed in the underside of the arm 57. A suitably arranged tension spring 71 is anchored to the end of the lever 68 remote from the plunger 65. Normally, the stem of the plunger extends right through a hole 57a in the picker arm into the cam track 64, and a mushroomshaped head 65a on the inner end of the plunger engages behind these plates. The cam track 64 of slot form is, however, locally widened or gapped, as at 64a in Figure 6, and if no inward pressure is applied to the plunger lever 63 at the time the plunger 65 is passing the widened or gapped portion of the track, the lever will be permitted to turn under the influence of the associated spring 71, thereby withdrawing the plunger and disconnecting the picker arm 57 from the cam track. A convenient way of pressing the plunger lever 68 in to maintain engagement of the plunger 65 with the cam track 64 is to provide the radiating pins 35 on the selector wheel 36 with inwardly directed tails 72 (see Figure 4) which extend at right angles to the said pins and are adapted each in turn to come to rest (at the termination of each rack of the wheel) on the edge of the plunger lever 68 in the manner shown in Figure 7. By omitting one of these tails 72 and so leaving a gap in the series the inward pressure on the plunger lever 68 holding it in is relieved with the result described. I Two or more such tails 72 may be omitted at desired locations according to require ments. For instance, in the particular arrangement shown in Figure 2, the first radiating pin 35 of each group, or pair, of the same length would be provided with a tail 72, the other pins, or the other pin, of that group or pair, as the case may be, having no tail. Incidentally, each time the selector wheel 36 is to be racked round, not only must the nose 33b of the selector arm 33 be held clear of the pins 35, but the plunger lever 68 must be similarly held clear of the tails 72. For this latter purpose, just prior to racking of the selector wheel 36 the lever 68 is turned against the action of its spring 71, to move the outer edge of the said lever clear of any nearby tail 72, by means of a cam 73 in the form of a strip secured upon the periphery of the outer cam plate 67 aforesaid. It is from the periphery of this plate that the striker pin 39 extends. The appropriate edge of the cam 73 acts upon a tail 68a at the end of the lever 68 remote from the plunger 69. The left hand side of the cam drum 38 consists of either a one-piece or a composite disc 74 in which is provided a further cam track 75 (Figures 3 and 4). In this track is arranged to work a pin 76 or a roller provided at the outer end of a short arm 77a of a two-armed fulcrumed lever 77, the longer arm 77b of which is fitted with a pin 78 arranged to extend through a suitably shaped cam slot 79 formed in aswinging lever 80 for operating the yarn picking device P. The lever 80 depends from a fulcrum pin 81 set in an extension of the main casting 10, and has a curved lower end portion a bent at right angles to provide a laterally directed lug 80b in which is fitted an adjustable abutment in the form of a headed screw 82 furnished with a lock nut 83. This abutment is one of those previously mentioned for action upon the down-turned end 460 of the aforementioned projection 46c extending laterally from the nipper element 46 and serves only to open the picking device P. To close this device, at the moment it is positioned to take and nip a selected yarn, the down-turned end 46d is brought into contact with an abutment 84 constituted by a laterally bent portion of an adjustable element 85 secured upon the main casting (see Figures 2 and 5 Also fulcrumed upon the pin 81 is a second downwardly extending swinging lever 86 which is furnished with a pin 87 disposed to extend laterally into a cam slot 88 of angular form provided in the longer arm 77b of the lever 77. The swinging lever 86 is for actuating the yarn pusher 54 and is formed at its lower end with a pair of spaced lateral extensions arranged one at each side of the operating projection 540.

The illustrated mechanism includes a trapper closing bar 89 connnon to all of the trapper actuating members 28 of the series. This bar, when operated by an upward movement, acts on and lifts the tail 28b of any member 28 in its path. The upper edge of the bar 89 has formed therein a gap or notch 89a (Figures 3, 5, 9 and 10) disposed in the median plane of the yarn picking device I. Accordingly, as the bar 89 is raised to close the relevant trapper, the rearwardly directed tail 28b of the trapper actuating member 28 associated with the previously opened trapper from which a selected yarn is to be taken and introduced to the needles is merely received into the gap or notch 89a without being acted upon by the bar. For controlling the movements of the gapped trapper closing bar 89 there is provided a lever 90 which is secured to the outer side of, and is adjustable angularly in relation to, the longer arm 77b of the twoarmed lever 77, the said further lever 90 having at its outer end a transversely extending portion 90a wherein is formed another cam slot 91 in which is arranged to work a pin 92 projecting laterally from one arm 93a of a bell crank or similar lever 93. The other arm 93b of this lever 93 carries the trapper closing bar 89. During one revolution of the cam track 75 first the yarn pusher 54 is operated, then the relevant trapper T is closed on the yarn withdrawn from knitting and the yarn picking device P is opened to release the selected yarn newly introduced to the needles. A portion of the cam track 75, indicated at 94 is adjustable for delaying the opening of the yarn picking device P.

At 95 is indicated a member adapted, by action upon the rear or inner edge of the actuating member 28 of trapper T, to elfect closure of that trapper by withdrawing the nose 28a of the said member from between the trapper elements 24 and 25. The member 95, also in the form of a bar, is formed with an upstanding operative portion 95a for acting on the rear or inner edge of the particular member 28 automatically presented to it. As shown in Figures 3, 5 and 8, the trapper opening member 95 is attached to a longitudinally slidable operating bar 96 which has a pin-and-slot connection with a fixed carrier block 97 and is connected, by means of a link 98, with an arm 99 secured upon one end of a short axle 1th) mounted to turn in an upright platelike portion of the main casting. The axle 100 extends through this portion of the casting and has rigidly secured upon its opposite end a further arm 101 arranged in the path of a cam 102 (Figure 8) secured upon the back of the disc 74. The trapper opening member 95 is pulled back, by the cam 102, into its operative position against the action of a tension spring 103 anchored to the arm 99 (see Figure 3).

The yarn changing and supplying mechanism prefer ably includes a feeder plate 104 (Figures ,9 and 10) gr;

ranged between the needles 3, 4 and the automatically operated trappers T, this plate having a gapped feed slot or opening 105 into which a yarn picked by the picking device P passes before it is finally introduced to the needles by the yarn pusher 54. This feeder plate 104 serves for all the yarns and it may conveniently carry yarn severing means. Thus, in the specific example shown, there is provided beneath the feeder plate 104 a pivoted shear blade 106 adapted for co-operation with the lower edge of the feed slot or openings 1G5, and to be operated by a push rod 107 connected with a fulcrumed lever 108 actuated by cams 109 and 110 on the rotary cam drum 38. The cam 109 acts on a nose 111 to effect actuation of the shear blade 106 in a sense resulting in the cutting of a yarn withdrawn from knitting, whilst the cam 119, acting on 112, reopens the shear.

The outer side of the disc 74 in this example is formed with the teeth of a bevel gear 113 with which is arranged to mesh a bevel pinion 114 secured at one end of a horizontally disposed short shaft 115 mounted for rotation in a bearing 116 secured to the main casting (see Figure 3). To the opposite end of this shaft is secured a small bevel gear 117 which meshes with a similar gear 118 at the upper end of a short vertical shaft 119. At its lower end the vertical shaft 119 is provided, as shown in Figure l, with a socket 120 adapted to receive and be coupled to the upper end of a further shaft 121 which extends vertically downwards through the stationary cam box plate 11 and is fitted at its lower end with a star wheel 122 the underside of one of the pointed teeth of which is re bated, as indicated at 123, to reduce the thickness of that tooth (122a) to about half that of the remaining teeth. Projecting "vertically upwards from the adjacent rotary headwheel 8 of the machine for co-operation with the star wheel 122 is an arcuate series of pegs 124 (Figures 1 and 14). The pegs are equally spaced apart and their total number is sufficient to rotate the starwheel 122 a sufficient number of times to effect, through the medium of the bevel gearing 113, 114, 117 and 118, one complete revolution of the cam drum 38. Although the following numbers may, of course, be varied, according to requirements, and the size of the machine, it will be assumed that the starwheel is provided with eight teeth and that in all there are sixty-six pegs 124 on the head wheel 8. Of these pegs the third of the series and every eighth peg thereafter (i.e. the shaded peg 124 in Figure 14) is slightly taller than the remaining pegs. As will be seen in Figure 1, the shorter pegs 124 are not sufficiently tall to act on the starwheel tooth 122a of reduced thickness, although they are capable, when permitted, of meshing with the normal teeth and so driving the starwheel 122. The third, eleventh, nineteenth, twenty-seventh, thirty-fifth, forty-third, fifty-first and fifty-ninth, i.e. taller pegs 124', are each fitted in a small pivoted switch plate 125 arranged to turn about the axis of the previous but one shorter pin. That is to say, the switch plate carrying the third peg of the series (the first tall peg 124') swings about the first peg, the plate carrying the eleventh peg swings about the ninth peg, the plate carrying the nineteenth peg swings about the seventeenth peg, and so on. Each switch plate 125 has formed therein a comparatively large clearance hole 126 to enable it to clear the intermediate (i.e. second, tenth, eighteenth etc.) peg when swinging. Now when the switch plates 125 are all turned inwards (see plate 125 at left-hand side of Figure 14) to displace the taller pegs 124 into an inner track 127 out of the range of the starwheel 122, the latter will remain stationary because until the tooth 122a of reduced thickness has been acted on the shorter pegs 124 cannot mesh with the teeth of normal full thickness. When, on the other hand, the switch plates 125 are caused to swing outwards and position the taller pegs 124' in an outer track in line with the shorter pegs 124, the starwheel will be driven. The switch plates 125 may advantageously be spring-controlled and arranged to be turned outwards against the spring action. For turning the said plates outwardly at required times there may conveniently be provided a plunger 128 adapted to be operated from a patterning chain or equivalent and, when depressed, to act on the inner edges a of the plates. In suitable association with the annular top plate 9 of the machine there is provided a cam 129 of mainly ring form for co-operation with guide pins 130 on the leading, i.e. swinging, ends of the switch plates. This cam is gapped at 129a and 12% not only to permit the guide pins 130 to pass therethrough from the inner side to the outer side thereof when the plates are acted upon by the plunger, but also to enable the said pins to pass from the outer side to the inner side of the cam at the termination of each revolution of the rotary cam drum. As will be understood, whenever the outer side of the ring cam 129 is in contact with the guide pins 130 the switch plates 125 will be positively held in their outermost positions with the longer pins 125 in line with the shorter pins 124.

Referring again to Figure l, the yarn picking device in the position it occupies when taking a selected yarn Y is indicated at P, whereas the position it occupies when favourably disposing the portion Y of the yarn for engagement by the pusher 54 is indicated at P The path followed by the said device, during movement thereof from the position P to the position P is indicated at P Also in this figure, the operative position of the pusher 54 is shown in chain lines, and it will be seen how the portion Y of the yarn is acted upon by the pusher and so disposed as to introduce it to the dial needles 4 and enable it to be thereupon taken by said dial needles into the cylinder needles 3.

I claim:

1. For a knitting machine equipped with at least one set of needles, yarn supplying mechanism comprising, in combination, a trapper device for holding a yarn in a non-feeding position, said device comprising two forked elements which are movable laterally with respect to each other and are normally urged together under spring influence to grip the yarn, whereby said forked elements provide two spaced pairs of trapper fingers between which a straight exposed length of the held yarn can be extended, a trapper actuating member operable in one sense to separate the said elements against the spring action and so release the said yarn, and in another sense to permit the elements to spring together again to grip the yarn, as occasion demands, a yarn picking device adapted to operate so as to engage said straight exposed length of held yarn between said spaced pairs of trapper fingers and thus pick a yarn presented in the non-feeding position by the said trapper device and take said yarn from that position towards the needles of the machine, means effecting and controlling the movements of the yarn picking device, and means automatically operating the trapper actuating member in timed relation with the controlled movements of said yarn picking device.

2. For a knitting machine equipped with at least one set of needles, yarn supplying mechanism comprising, in combination, a trapper device for holding a yarn in a nonfeeding position, said device comprising two forked elements one element of which is fixed while the other is displaceable laterally in relation thereto, a carrier upon which the fixed element is secured, a rod upon which both elements are mounted and along which the displaceable element is slidable, a compression spring arranged to surround the said rod and normally urge the elements together to grip the yarn, whereby the forked elements provide two spaced pairs of trapper fingers between which can be arranged to extend a straight exposed length of the held yarn, a trapper actuating member disposed at one side of the trapper device and mounted to turn about the axis of the aforesaid rod, the said member having a tail and also a laterally extending and upwardly directed nib for interposition between the trapper elements, a

trapper opening member movable to act upon an edge of the trapper actuating member for the purpose of turning the latter in one direction and interposing the nib between the trapper elements suchwise as to separate the latter against the spring action and so release the said yarn, a trapper closing member movable to act on the tail of the trapper actuating member for the purpose of turning this in the reverse direction and so permitting the elements to spring together again to grip the yarn again, a yarn picking device adapted to operate so as to engage said straight exposed length of held yarn between said spaced pair of trapper fingers and thus pick a yarn presented in the non-feeding position by the said trapper device and take said yarn from that position towards the needles of the machine, means effecting and controlling the movements of the yarn picking device, and means effectingv and controlling automatic operation of the trapper opening and closing members in timed relation with the controlled movements of said yarn picking device.

'3. For a knitting machine equipped with at least one set of needles, yarn supplying and changing mechanism comprising, in combination, a series of trapper devices for holding yarns in non-feeding positions, each of said devices comprising a pair of elements which are relatively movable laterally and are normally urged together under spring influence to grip the relevant yarn, a trapper actuating member for each trapper device, a common carrier upon which the trapper devices are mounted side by side, a yarn picking device adapted to operate so as to pick a selected one of the yarns presented in its non-feeding position by the corresponding trapper device and take said yarn from that position towards the needles of the machine, controlled means adapted to move the aforesaid carrier and thereby shift the held yarns so that a selected yarn, as predetermined, can be brought into a favourable position to be picked and taken by the yarn picking device, means effecting and controlling the movements of the yarn picking device, a trapper opening member common to all the trapper devices, this member being so disposed that Whenever the said carrier is moved to present a selected yarn for engagement by the yarn picking device, the operative portion of the trapper opening member will be opposite to the trapper actuating member associated with the trapper device holding the said selected yarn, means automatically operating said trapper opening member suchwise as to cause the latter to act ,on the opposed trapper actuating member and thereby effect separation of the trapper elements of the relevant device against the spring action to release the said selected yarn, a movable trapper closing bar common to all of the trapper actuating members and operable during each yarn changing operation, to act on the appropriate trapper actuating member for the purpose of permitting the trapping elements of the corresponding trapper device to spring together under spring action and so grip the yarn withdrawn from knitting, the appropriate edge of the said trapper closing bar having formed therein a notch located on the median line of the yarn picking device whereby as the said bar moves to close the relevant trapper device the opposed portion of the trapper actuating member associated with the previously opposed trapper device from which the selected yarn is to be taken is merely received into the notch without being acted upon by the bar, and means automatically operating the trapper closing bar, the automatic operation of the trapper opening member and the trapper closing bar being in timed relation with the controlled movements of the yarn picking device.

4. For a knitting machine equipped with at least one set of needles, yarn supplying and changing mechanism comprising, in combination, a series of trapper devices for holding yarns in non-feeding positions, each of said devices comprising a pair of forked elements which are relatively movable laterally and normally closed together under spring influence to grip the relevant yarn, a trapper" actuating member for each trapper device, said member being operable in one sense to separate the trapper elements of said trapper device against a spring action and so release the relevant yarn and in another sense to permit the said elements to spring together again to grip the same yarn, as occasion demands, a common carrier for all of the trapper devices, a yarn picking device adapted to take hold of a selected one of the yarns presented in its non-feeding position by the corresponding trapper device to thereupon move bodily across the needle line and to dispose the yarn clear of, but in a favourable position for introduction to, the needles, a yarn pusher to engage a selected yarn so disposed and introduce it to the needles, means adapted to move the aforesaid carrier and thereby shift the held yarns so that a selected yarn, as predetermined, can be brought into a position to be picked and taken by the yarn picking device, a member automati-' cally opening the trapper device from which the selected yarn is to be taken by the yarn picking device during a yarn changing operation, another member automatically closing the trapper device corresponding to the yarn Withdrawn from knitting during this operation, a rotatable control drum furnished with cams, and interrelated connections between said cams and the yarn picking device, the yarn pusher and the trapper opening and closing members for effecting and controlling the movements of the conjointly operable devices and members in appropriate timed relation.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 and further including means for operating said yarn pusher, said means comprising a projection on said pusher, a lever engaging said projection, a cam-operated lever, said lever and said cam-operated lever being operatively connected whereby the trapper closing member and the yarn picking device are actuated.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, and further comprising a feeder plate between the trapper devices and the needles of the machine, said plate having a gapped feed slot through which a selected yarn taken by the picking device passes before it is introduced to the needles, and a shear blade provided beneath said feeder plate and operated from the control drum and adapted for co-operation with an edge of the feed slot.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, and further comprising pattern controlled driving means for the rotary control drum of said mechanism, and an element for determining the times of operation of the said'dri-ving means, said element being operable from main control means on the machine.

8. For a knitting machine equipped with at least one set of needles, yarn supplying and changing mechanism comprising, in combination, a series of trapper devices for holding yarns in non-feeding positions, each of said devices comprising a pair of elements which are relatively movable laterally and normally closed together under spring influence to grip the relevant yarn, a trapper actuating member for each trapper device, said member being operable in one sense to separate the trapper elements of that device against the spring action and so release the relevant yarn and in another sense to permit the said elements to spring together again to grip the same yarn, as occasion demands, a common carrier for all of the trapper devices, a yarn picking device adapted to take hold of a selected one of the yarns presented in its nonfeeding position by the corresponding trapper device to thereupon move bodily across the needle line and to dispose the yarn clear of, but in a favourable position for introduction to the needles, a yarn pusher to engage a selected yarn so disposed and introduce it to the needles, means adapted to move the aforesaid carrier and thereby shift the held yarns so that a selected yarn, as predetermined, can be brought into a position to be picked and taken by the yarn picking device, a member automatically opening the trapper device from which the selected yarn is to be taken by the yarn picking device during a yarn changing operation, another member automatically closing the trapper device corresponding to the yarn-withdrawn from knitting during this operation, a rotatable control drum, a cam track on said drum, a first lever actuated from said track, inter-related subsidiary levers which are operatively associated with said first lever and are movable to operate the trapper closing member, inner and outer parts on the drum which are so contoured and arranged as to provide between them a cam groove, and a fulcrumed 7 arm which is operated from said groove and controls the bodily movements of the yarn picking device.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 and further including a selector wheel, a selector arm operatively associated with said selector wheel, a peg for racking round said selector wheel whereby the carrier for the trapper devices is shifted to varying extents through the medium of said selector arm, and a cam for keeping the said selector arm clear of the selector wheel while the latter is being racked round. 1

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 and further including a fulcrumed arm, the carrier for the trapper devices being secured to said arm, a plate having a slot therein, said plate being secured to said fulcrumed arm, a pin on said selector arm, said pin projecting through the slot in the plate.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 and further including a circular series of radiating pins of diflferent lengths projecting from the periphery of the selector wheel, the selector arm being pivoted and provided with a nose adapted normally to rest on and be supported by one of said pins.

12. For a knitting machine equipped with at least one set of needles, yarn supplying and changing mechanism comprising, in combination, a series of trapper devices for holding yarns in non-feeding positions, each of said devices comprising a pair of elements which are relatively movable laterally and normally closed together under spring influence to grip the relevant yarn, a trapper acting member for each trapper device, said member being operable in one sense to separate the trapper elements of that device against the spring action and so released the relevant yarn and in another sense to permit the said elements to spring together again to grip the same yarn, as occasion demands, a common carrier for all of the trapper devices, a yarn picking device adapted to take hold of a selected one of the yarns presented in its non-feeding position by the corresponding trapper device to thereupon move bodily across the needle line and to dispose the yarn clear of, but in a favourable position for introduction to, the needles, a yarn pusher to engage a selected yarn so disposed and introduce it to the needles, means adapted to move the aforesaid carrier and thereby shift the held yarns so that a selected yarn, as predetermined, can be brought into a position to be picked and taken by the yarn picking device, a member automatically opening the trapper device from which the selected yarn is to be taken by the yarn picking device during a yarn changing operation, another member automatically 50 closing the trapper device corresponding to the yarn withdrawn from knitting during this operation, a rotatable control drum, a fulcrumed picker arm which is operated from said groove, a lever articuated to said picker arm and having a projection, a carrier for the yarn picking device which is attached to said last mentioned lever, a fixed guide having formed therein a contoured slotto receive the projection on the said lever, and a spring influenced plunger which is carried by the picker arm and is insertible into and 'withdrawable from the aforesaid cam groove, for the purpose described.

13. In a knitting machine equipped with at least one set of needles, in combination, a series of trapper devices for holding yarns in non-feeding positions, each of said devices comprising a pair of elements which are relatively movable laterally and normally closed together under spring influence to grip the relevant yarn, a trapper actuating member for each trapper device, said member being operable in one sense to separate the trapper elements of that device against the spring action and so release the relevant yarn and in another sense to permit the said elements to spring together again to grip the same yarn, as occasion demands, a common carrier for all of the trapper devices, a yarn picking device adapted to take hold of a selected one of the yarns presented in its non-feeding position'by the corresponding trapper device to thereupon move bodily across the needle line and to dispose the yarn clear of, but in a favourable position for introduction to, the needles, a yarn pusher to engage a selected yarn so disposed and introduce it to the needles, means adapted to move the aforesaid carrier and thereby shift the held yarns so that a selected yarn, as predetermined, can be brought into a position to be picked and taken by the yarn picking device, a member automatically opening the trapper device from which the selected yarn is to be taken by the yarn picking device during a yarn changing operation, another member automatically closing the trapper device corresponding to the yarn withdrawn from knitting during this operation, a rotatable control drum furnished with cams, inter-related connections between said cams and the yarn picking device, the yarn pusher and the trapper opening and closing member for effecting and controlling the movements of these conjointly operable devices and members in appropriate timed relation, a rotatable toothed element, gearing for transmitting a drive from said toothed element to the cam drum, a rotary component fitted with spaced pegs for engaging and driving round the toothed element, and pattern controlled means for determining the times when the pegs are permitted to engage and rotate said toothed element.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 and further including a star wheel, the pegs being provided on the head wheel of the machine and arranged to co-operate with said star wheel from which the rotary cam drum is driven through the medium of gearing, and the pattern controlled means are influenced by an element operable from a main control unit of the machine.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

